Scripture:

“After this presentation to Israel’s leaders, Moses and Aaron went and spoke to Pharaoh. They told him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go so they may hold a festival in my honor in the wilderness.’

‘Is that so?’ retorted Pharaoh. ‘And who is the Lord? Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I don’t know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.’

 

But Aaron and Moses persisted. ‘The God of the Hebrews has met with us,’ they declared. ‘So let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness so we can offer sacrifices to the Lord our God. If we don’t, he will kill us with a plague or with the sword.’

 

Pharaoh replied, ‘Moses and Aaron, why are you distracting the people from their tasks? Get back to work! Look, there are many of your people in the land, and you are stopping them from their work.’

 

That same day Pharaoh sent this order to the Egyptian slave drivers and the Israelite foremen: ‘Do not supply any more straw for making bricks. Make the people get it themselves! But still require them to make the same number of bricks as before. Don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy. That’s why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to our God.’ Load them down with more work. Make them sweat! That will teach them to listen to lies’!” Exodus 5:1-9 (NLT)

Perspective:

God had met with Moses in a burning bush to tell him to go back to Egypt and set up a meeting with Pharaoh. Pharaoh would have been the most influential leader in that area during that time. Then, Moses and his brother, Aaron, were to ask Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave Egypt. Pharaoh’s response wasn’t favorable. He did not recognize the Lord and wasn’t convinced by their plea. Instead of conceding to their request, he made work more difficult for the Israelites. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt, so they couldn’t come and go as they pleased.  The Israelites became so displeased at Moses and Aaron for making their life more difficult. In Exodus 5: 22-23 (MSG), Moses responded to the situation by saying to God, “My Master, why are you treating this people so badly? And why did you ever send me? From the moment I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, things have only gotten worse for this people. And rescue? Does this look like rescue to you?” Moses’ obedience led to an even worse situation for the people. It seemed that all hope was lost. He didn’t know that it would take time after time of going to Pharaoh to have a breakthrough.

How often have we asked God the same question as Moses? We see our circumstances and may ask God if it looks like He is rescuing us. Moses and Aaron did what they were supposed to do. Wasn’t everyone supposed to gather around them in support? When we receive direction from God, it doesn’t mean everything is going to immediately fall into place. Sometimes barriers create obstacles to accomplishing God’s purposes. It can be frustrating and disheartening to experience these setbacks. In Moses’ case, the delay only served as a platform to display God’s power. You may think that saying yes to God will result in immediate action.  If it doesn’t, don’t lose heart. Moses didn’t know that the parting of the Red Sea was coming, and you don’t know the miracle that is coming in your life. So when it doesn’t look like rescue to you, you may still have your own Red Sea miracle waiting if you see it through until the end.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002.  Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. 

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About Hona Amer

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